Sway control bar
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
Forum Discription: Perplexed/need help with a problem - ask here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16151
Printed Date: 09 May 2025 at 9:51am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Sway control bar
Posted By: Islandranger
Subject: Sway control bar
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2025 at 11:19pm
Hey there, I am in the market for a friction sway control bar for my 2014 rPod177. TV is a 2018 Chevy Colorado. Looking for a bolt on adapter so I do not have to drill into the frame. I've only seen them for 2-3" frames not the 4-in frame that I have. Any ideas would be helpful.
Thanks
Paul
-------------
Islandranger
|
Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2025 at 11:48pm
Why a sway bar and not a sway-control hitch like the Equal-i-zer, the Progress E2, or the Andersen No-Sway? With those, you can back up without having to get out and release the tension like you would need to do with a friction sway control bar. That or risk bending things if you forget. The additional cost of a proper sway control hitch is worth it in my opinion, especially for a Colorado which would benefit from the weight distribution of one of the above hitches also.
-------------
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
|
Posted By: Islandranger
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2025 at 3:18am
Thanks for the reply. Based on what I've read, I thought a sway bar was really all I needed and that a weight distribution hitch was nice to have but more than I really needed. I can appreciate the convenience of not having to release the tension on a sway bar with the upgrade to a sway control hitch. Also need to consider the additional cost.
Thanks I appreciate your comments.
-------------
Islandranger
|
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2025 at 8:30am
|
Am I correct in thinking you just purchased this RPod? When you get it fully loaded, make sure that 10-15% of the total weight is tongue weight for stability. If you can easily lift the front end, then it is likely too light and will be prone to sway. There is a Youtube video from U-Haul that demonstrates this. The dry weight can give you an approximation, but once you get the trailer ready for travel with everything needed, you need to confirm the weight and make sure you have the right amount of tongue weight.
You could go with electronic sway control, but that would be as expensive as a weight distribution/sway control hitch. Curt True Course or Tuson Sway Control are two such devices. Hayes Sway-Master can be found on ebay for less, but it is apparently discontinued as I couldn't find reference to it in a search except for there. That is what I have in addition to the Equal-i-zer hitch. (belt and suspenders approach)
-------------
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
|
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2025 at 10:40am
|
+1
Highly recommend getting a weight distribution hitch (AKA "WDH"). We have towed with and without it with our RP179 and F150, and the WDH makes a massive difference for the better.
-------------
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
|
Posted By: Islandranger
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2025 at 12:33pm
Purchased it last year and made a few trips without any sway control.It did ok but did notice a bit of sway. Would definitely want some support. Just trying to figure out a safe yet most economical way. trying not to have to drill into the frame.
-------------
Islandranger
|
Posted By: gpokluda
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2025 at 1:47pm
I also highly recommend a weight distribution hitch with built in sway control. We used the Fastway E2 on our Rpod. We started off with a sway control bar, but after one trip, decided a WDH would be better and safer.
-------------
Gpokluda
2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023)
2022 Escape 5.0TA
2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB
Kawasaki KLR650
|
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2025 at 2:55pm
|
I am also on the WDH bandwagon. I don't think it's a good idea to maybe consider it. I think there no doubt about it, you need a WDH. Do it right the first time.
-------------
2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
|
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2025 at 6:55pm
Looking at this from the other side of the fence: Having towed our 177 fully loaded with 36 gallons of water (tank behind axle) - weight is 2940 lbs. Have towed over 51,000 miles over the past 14 years in all sorts of weather: blizzards, heavy snow, sleet, hail, heavy rainstorms with cross-winds in excess of 20 mph and flooded roads with no issues. Tow vehicles over the years have included: '08 and '13 front wheel drive Explorer's for 8 years and '94, '11, and '17 F-150's for the past 4 years - no issues with any of these vehicles using a simple $40 Curt friction bar. I believe the clincher as to why no issues is this: keeping the weight on the a-frame at least 10% or more of the total weight of the loaded trailer. I keep an a-frame scale handy and we are usually within a few pounds of 340 which is nearly 12% of total trailer weight. My case rests.
-------------
God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
|
Posted By: Islandranger
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2025 at 7:43pm
Thanks for your comments.
-------------
Islandranger
|
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2025 at 9:19pm
There is a big difference though in towing with Explorers and F-150s and towing with a mid-sized pickup like a Colorado or Frontier. The larger vehicles have much heavier suspensions.
-------------
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
|
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2025 at 12:33pm
Originally posted by StephenH
There is a big difference though in towing with Explorers and F-150s and towing with a mid-sized pickup like a Colorado or Frontier. The larger vehicles have much heavier suspensions. |
Indeed, this is why I made the above point. The Explorer's used have a much lighter frame/suspension than any of the three F-150's used, yet with proper tongue weight, every vehicle listed performed well under less than ideal weather conditions.
-------------
God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
|
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2025 at 9:18pm
|
Our F-150 handled the Rpod just fine without the WDH, but some kind of rear support was needed because the tongue weight alone put the headlights up in the trees (and we have the "BIG" F-150). The WDH fixed that.
So in addition to the anti-sway, you would still need helper springs or sumo springs or something. If you're going to do that, why not just put on the WDH and be done?
-------------
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
|
Posted By: poston
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2025 at 11:24pm
Originally posted by GlueGuy
Our F-150 handled the Rpod just fine without the WDH, but some kind of rear support was needed because the tongue weight alone put the headlights up in the trees (and we have the "BIG" F-150). The WDH fixed that.
So in addition to the anti-sway, you would still need helper springs or sumo springs or something. If you're going to do that, why not just put on the WDH and be done? |
Same with our Xterra. It has a very short wheelbase (106"), and a sway bar took away most of the white-knuckling in the wind. But the tongue weight affected the headlights so bad that I only wanted to travel during the day.
http://https://www.firestoneairide.com/automotive/aftermarket/aftermarket-air-helper-spring-kits/ride-rite-kit/ - Firestone air bags helped level it out somewhat, but I still had weight distribution issues so bad that sometimes the front tires skidded on a hard stop. That was the last straw. I got a http://https://andersenhitches.com/product/weight-distribution-hitch/ - Petersen weight distribution hitch .
What a difference! It really does make me forget that I'm towing sometimes.
-------------
--
Jim
Virginia City, Nevada
2016 R-pod 180
2015 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X
|
|